Machine



(No Model.) 3 SheetsSheet 1.

A. F. FITZ GERALD.

URAOKER STAGKING MACHINE.

No. 403,526. Patented May 21, 1889.

Suva rm 3 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(No Modl.)

A. F. FITZ GERALD. GRAOKER STAOKING MACHINE.

Patented Ma woe/whoa V a. f

(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 3. A. F. PITZ GERALD.

GRAOKER STAOKING MACHINE. No. 403,526. Patented May 21. 1889.

Qwi/bwe/awo. 5:2 I 1;} W fitter/me 70 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

AUGUSTINE F. FITZ GERALD, OF BROOKLYN, ASSIGNOR TO THE VAN DER- YEER 8: HOLMES BISCUIT COMPANY, OF NElV YORK, N. Y.

CRACKER-STACKING MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 403,526, dated May 21, 1889.

Application filed October 25, 1888. Serial No. 289,103. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, AUGUSTINE F. FITZ GERALD, a citizen of the United States, residing at Brooklyn, county of Kings, State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Cracker-Stacking Machines, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part hereof.

IO The object of this invention is to facilitate the piling, stacking, or packaging of crackers, biscuit, and similar articles, and to reduce the amount of hand labor required in such operations; and the invention consists in arrange- I 5 ments of mechanism adapted to receive the crackers in a confused mass, except that their faces are all in the same direction, and to arrange them in rows ready for packing. WVhen thus arranged, the crackers can be readily 2o gathered up in bunches by the operatives and placed in suitable boxes or canisters, or stacked or piled in regular order, as may be desired.

This mechanism consists, essentially, of a feeder-preferably a traveling aprona receiver, which is also preferably a traveling apron, and devices moving independently of the feeder and receiver, operating upon the crackers as they are carried along by the feeder 0 or the receiver, or are passed from the feeder to the receiver, whereby the crackers are turned upon their faces and regularly arranged in rows or horizontal lines upon the receiver.

To describe my invention more particularly, I will now refer to the accompanying drawings, in which--- Figure 1 is a plan view, and Fig. 2 a side elevation, of the complete machine. Fig. 3 is an enlarged longitudinal section of a portion of the machine; Fig. 4, an end elevation of Fig. 3, or enlarged cross-section of the machine; and Fig. 5, an enlarged plan view, partly broken away. Fig. 6 is a transverse vertical section of Fig. 5 on the line 6 6, and Fig. '7 is a transverse vertical section of Fig. 6 on the line 7 7.

The frame of the machine consists of side pieces, a a, joined together by suitable braces and supported by legs a a. A wooden frame such as shown I have found well adapted for the purpose. The driving-shaft b is situated at the right-hand or front end of the machine, and all moving parts are connected to this shaft.

1) is the pulley by'which motion is imparted to the shaft 1).

Two continuous traveling aprons, each the full width of the distance between the frames, feed the crackers forward through the ma- 6o chine. The feeder or upper apron, 0, passes over and around a roller on the shaft b, over and around a roller, 0, journaled in the frames a a, some distance above the level of the shaft 19, and back to the roller on the shaft b, passing under a stretching-roller, d, between and below the two other rollers. This stretchingroller d is held in screw-slides operated by handles (1 d in the usual manner. An inclined guard, 0 passes across the frame with its lower edge close to the apron c, and adjustable guides e e, the front ends of which are secured to the side frames, while their rear ends are adj ustably held by thumb-screws e e in slots in the cross-piece 6 lie close to the apron 0 throughout the length of its upper portion between the roller on shaft 1) and the roller 0. A stripper and guide, 0 is pivoted in the side frames, and bears against the apron c, where the apron passes around the roller 0.

The apron c, the inclined guard 0 and the guides e 6 form a receptacle into which the crackers are thrown from the baking-pans. The crackers slide from the pans onto the apron with all their faces upward, but are otherwise irregularly arranged. The forward motion of the apron, imparted to it from the roller on the shaft 12, carries the crackers up to where the apron passes around the roller 0. At this point the crackers fall from the apron over the stripper and guide 0 and through the separating and inverting device to the receiveror lower traveling apron. This separating and inverting device consists of the frame f, provided with adjustable devices for controlling the crackers. This frame f is reciprocated by a rotating cam, g, acting on the pin g, secured to the upper part of the frame fiand slidesin the guides f f, secured to the frame of the machine. The actuatingcam is secured on the shaft havin bear- J J b ings in the side pieces, Ct a, of the frame, and receivingmotion from the shaft 1? by means of a belt, g passing over the pulley b on the shaft 1) and the pulley g on the shaft 9 The frame f is divided by a series of adj ustable vertical partitions, h h, all shaped alike, and each held in place by a bolt and clamping thumb-nut, 71 These bolts work in a slot, k in the frame f, thus permitting the partitions h to be arranged in any desired manner.

The partitions are shaped to fit closely in the frame f. They embrace the stripper 0 their vertical edges h h are tapered to a sharp line, and their lower edges lie close to the receiver or lower apron. The upper ends of these partitions h hact as fingers to separate the crackers. The construction of the lower ends of these partitions 77. will be hereinafter described. The partitions are adjusted so that the spaces between them will be just wide enough for one cracker. As shown in Fig. 1, this adjustment of the partitions h 71.- has been made and four channels are provided of equal width. The guides 6 care adjusted, as shown, by means of the thumbscrews 6 6, so that all the crackers carried by the apron a will be guided to these four channels. The crackers, as they slide down the stripper 0 mt et the sharp vertical edges h of the partitions h, and are thereby guided into one or other of the channels formed be-' tween the partitions h, the upper ends of the partitions thus acting as fingers to separate and control the crackers. The continual reciprocating motion imparted to the frame f insures this separation and guidance of the crackers and removes all possibility of their lodging against the sharp edges 7L2 or being broken or injured thereby.

The devices of the frame f have another function to perform besides that of directing the crackers down fixed channels-via, inverting the crackers, turning them so that they will fall upon the receiver or lower apron with faces downward. This is accomplished by interposin g in the path of the crackers, as they dropfrom the stripper 0 a deflector formed by the inclined side i of the frame f, and by the adjustable plate t", which forms a continuation of the inclined side i. The crackers fall upon this deflector from the stripper c and slide down the deflector and onto the second apron with their faces downward. I find it advisable to adjust the lower opening through which the crackers fall, and this I accomplish by adjusting the plate L. This plate 1" extends across the width of the frame f. Thusby its adjustment all the channels are simultaneously affected. This adjustment is accomplished by the rod j, which is at its lower end threaded and works into a threaded lug secured to the plate e", and the rod j is operated by the handle j, secured to its upper end.

The second or lower apron, It, which constitutes the receiver, passes around the roller Z on the shaft Z, having fixed bearing Secured to the sides a a of the frame, and around the roller m, having bearings m, sliding in the frame and adjusted by hand-screws m to tighten the apron, in the usual manner. The shaft Z is provided with a stepped cone-pulley, Z which receives motion by means of a belt, Z from a cone-pulley, 19 provided with reversely-arranged steps and secured on the shaft 1). By shifting the belt to the different steps of these cone-pulleys the speed of the apron 7c in relation to the apron 0 may be adjusted as desired.

As before stated, the lower edges of the partitions h of the frame flie close to the lower apron, 70. Each partition h is provided with an extension or arm, k which projects under the frame f and along over the apron 70. Each arm h is connected to a longguidebar or partition, n, which rests upon the apron throughout the remaining length of its upper part, the connecting device of each arm h and corresponding guide-bar a consisting of a link, 0, loosely pivoted in the end of the arm and of the guide-bar and held closely to the apron 70. These guide-bars n are adjusted when the partitions h are adj usted, as they should be so arranged as to be in line with the partitions, respectively,when the frame f is in central position. The enlarged plan, Fig. 5, shows the frame f in central position, and the frame f is broken away to show a few of the arms 71 links 0, and guide-bars n, and dotted lines indicate the extreme positions of the arms 713 and links 0. The adjustment of the guide-bars n n is accomplished by means of the two clampingframes 19 p, which extend across from one side frame a to the other, and are free to move vertically, but not otherwise, in grooves formed in the side frames, at a, thus allowing the guide-bars n n to rest upon the apron it.

Each clamping-frame 19 consists of a main bar, 19, and a clamping-ban o? Each clampingbar 12 is provided with a long slot extending throughout the greater part of its length, and bolts n, secured to the guide-bars qt, pass freely through this slot, and are provided with heads and washers which rest upon the upper surface of the clamping-harp? The lower edge of the main bar 19' being faced with a strip of soft or elastic material-such as india-rubber-tension pulling the clamping-bar 10 toward the main. bar 1) will cause the heads of the bolts 9?. to be firmly gripped between the bars 192 and p. plied by the thumb-nut p turning on the bolt p, the lower end of which is held in the "bridge-piece 19 secured to the clamping-bar 19 This bridge-piece p braces the parts of the bar 19 at the center, and extends upward from the same and through a slotin the main bar 19, so as to leave the slotin the clampingbarp free of obstruction. (See Figs. 5, 6, and 7 When the thumb-nuts p are slackened, the guide-bars n can be moved to any desired position; and when the thumb-nuts are tight- This tensionis ap- 1 ened, the guide-bars are securely held to the clamping-frame.

The crackers fall upon the receiver or lower apron, it, from the channels of the frame f, as before described. As the frame f has a reciprocating motion, the crackers from the same channel do not always fall in the same line on the apron, but this is corrected by the oscillating movement of the links 0, which, with the guide-bars a, form continuations of r the partitions h in the frame f. Thus the crackers are arranged upon the receiver or apron k with their faces downward, or faced, and in straight lines.

\Vith the machine adjusted as shown in the drawings the crackers would be in four lines in the four channels between the guide-bars n n. \Vhen thus arranged in line and lying on their faces, the crackers can be rapidly picked up by the operatives, who gather them in bunches or stacks by placing both hands some distance apart in the groove between two guide-bars, and moving theirhands together in contact with the apron, thus brin ging the crackers together turned on their edges, with their faces all in the same direction. The crackers, being fed upon the apron kin the manner described, are generally made to overlap each other, which facilitates their collection in bunches. If, owing to the relative rates of speed of the different parts of the machine or the rate of supply of the crackers, the crackers me not caused to overlap each other on the apron k, the work of gathering the crackers into bunches is still greatly aided and simplified by the machine. The operation of gathering them in stacks or bunches can be very rapidly performed, and the stacks or bunches thus gathered can be directly placed in the boxes or packages in which they are transported and sold.

In the practical working of the machine I have found that both round and square crackers can be handled with advantage. The most delicate crackers or Wafers are not injured by passing through this machine.

It is obvious that by reason of the adj ustability of the various parts the machine may be adjusted for stacking crackers of any size.

Having now described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, 1s

1. A cracker-stacking machine consisting of a feeder, a receiver placed below the feeder, a device independent of the feeder and receiver moving transversely of the machine and provided with fingers for separating the crackers, for arranging the crackers in a straight line or lines upon the receiver, and means for operating this separating device, substantially as shown and described.

2. A cracker-stacking machine consisting of a feeder, a receiver arranged below the feeder, a laterally-reciproeating frame independent of and placed between the feeder and receiver, provided with a channel or channels down which the crackers fall from the feeder to the receiver, and means for operating the reciprocating frame, substantially as shown and described.

3. A cracker-stacking machine consisting of a feeder, a receiver arranged below the feeder, a laterally-reciprocating frame independent of and placed between the feeder and receiver, provided with a channel or channels down which the crackers fall from the feeder to the receiver-,means for operating the reciprocating frame, and a deflector which inverts the crackers as they fall to the receiver, substantially as shown and described.

4. A cracker-stacking machine consisting of a traveling apron which feeds the crackers, a second traveling apron arranged below the first, means for operating the aprons, a laterally-reciprocating frame placed between the two aprons, means for operating the reciprocating frame, vertical partitions in the reciprocating frame, longitudinal guide-bars over the lower apron,'and pivoted links joining the lower ends of the partitions and the ends of the guide-bars adjacent thereto, substantially as shown and described.

5. A cracker-stacking machine consisting of a traveling apron which feeds the crackers, a second traveling apron arranged below the first, means for operating the aprons, a laterally-reciprocating frame, means for operating the reciprocating frame, vertical partitions in the reciprocating frame, longitudinal guide-bars over the second apron, pivoted links joining the lower ends of the partitions and ends of the guide-bars adjacent thereto, and an adjustable deflecting-plate in the reciprocating frame and extending across the same under the partitions, substantially as shown and described.

6. A cracker-stacking machine consisting of a traveling apron which feeds the crackers, means for operating the apron, a laterally-reciprocating frame independent of and placed below the apron, provided with partitions forming a channel or channels down which the crackers fall, means for operating the reciprocating frame, and guides above the apron to direct all the crackers into the channels in the reciprocating frame, substantially as shown and described.

7. A cracker-stacking machine consisting of a traveling apron which feeds the crackers, guides placed above the apron, a stripper bearing against the apron, a laterally-reciprocating frame provided with partitions extending over the stripper and forming channels down which t-he'crackers slide from the receivingapron, a second traveling apron arranged below the first or feeding apron, guide-bars over the second apron, links connecting the lower ends of the partitions in the reciprocating frame with the ends of the guide-bars adja-- cent thereto, and means for operating the aprons and reciprocating frame, substantially as shown and described.

8. A cracker-stacking machine consisting of a traveling apron which feeds the crackers,

guides placed above the apron, a stripper bear ing against the apron, a laterally-reciprocating frame provided with partitions extending over the stripper and forming channels down which the crackers slide from the feeding apron, and a deflector which inverts the crackers asthey fall, a second traveling apron arranged below the first or receiving apron, guide-bars over the second apron, links connecting the lower ends of the partitions in the reciprocating frame with the ends of the guidebars adjacent thereto, and means for operating the aprons and reciprocating frame, substantially as shown and described.

9. In a cracker-stacking machine,in combination, the traveling apron 0, means for operating the apron, the guards 03, extending transversely across the apron, and the adj ustable guide-bars e 6, extending longitudinally over the apron a, substantially as shown and described.

10, In a cracker-stacking machine, in combination, the traveling apron 0, means for operating the apron, the adjustable guide-bars e e, extending longitudinally over the apron c, the laterally-reciprocating frame f, provided with partitions h h, adjustably clamped to the I frame f,and means for operating the reciprocating frame, the guide=bars being arranged to guide crackers placed on the apron into channels formed by the partitions of the reciprocating frame f, substantially as shown and described.

11. In a cracker-stacking machine, in combination, the traveling apron 0, means for op erating the apron, the adjustable guide-bars e 6, extending longitudinally over the apron I c, the stripper c bearing against the apron c, the laterally-reciprocating frame 1, provided with partitions h h, adjustably. clamped to the frame f,and means for operating the reciprocating frame, the guide-bars being arranged to guide crackers placed on the apron into the channels formed by the partitions of the reciprocating frame, substantially as shown and described.

12. In a cracker stacking machine, in combination, the traveling apron 0, means for operating the apron, the stripper bearing against the apron c, and the frame f, provided with a deflector consisting of the inclined side i and plate 01, adj ustably connected to and projeeting from the side '6, substantially as shown and described. 7

13, In a oracker-stackin g machine, in combination, the laterally reciprocating frame f, means for operating the frame f, the partitions h h in the same provided'with exten sions 72, W, the traveling apron It, means for operating the apron k, the guide-bars n n, and the links 0 o, joining gnideebars n to extensions h substantially as shown and described.

14. In a cracker-stacking machine, an ad: justing device for the guide-hart GQnsisting of the main piece 1 slotted clamping piece p bridge-piece 10 secured to the clampingpi ee p and cl mp ng b l and n 1 1 ,5 ining the main piece and bridge-piece in combination with the guide-bars n, resting upon the traveling apron k and provided with headed bolts n, the heads n being clamped between the main piece 10' and clamping-piece 10 substantially as shown and described;

AUGUSTINE F. FI'IZ "GERALD. 

